Last updated: September 1, 2025 | Inspired by nownownow.com
I’m Ramon Stoppelenburg, a Dutch writer, translator, and digital pioneer currently based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This page gives you a snapshot of what I’m focused on right now.
🎬 Currently Watching
Movie: We’re All Gonna Die
Series: The Twisted Tales of Amanda Knox. Fascinating!
Okay, and Dexter: Resurrection.
And Black Mirror.
📍 Where Am I Now?
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – my creative and spiritual home base since 2010.
💼 What I’m Working On
Writing & Journalism
- Essays & columns for leading Dutch newspapers de Volkskrant and NRC
- Writing in progress:
Het Laatste Hostel (The Last Hostel) – exploring digital identity, performative freedom, and the search for authenticity in an always-on world in Dutch;
Always Almost There: A Memoir – a brutally honest and darkly funny English memoir about chasing geographical solutions to existential problems, only to discover that everyone else is running toward their own version of “elsewhere.” Based on my time in Tbilisi and Casablanca in 2023. - Non-fiction guide in progress: Eat Out, Lose Fat – my book about building a healthier relationship with food without sacrificing the joy of dining out
Translation & Language Services
Current clients:
- Dutch copywriter for Brainlabs Digital (Mars & Sheba)
- Proofreader for Le Monde international pages (French to English)
- Language consultant for Bangkok Post, Thailand
- Novel translator for NYT bestselling authors Zoe York and Chloe Maine (English to Dutch)
- Translator for Pineca.nl, Copenhagen Consensus Center and healthcare companies
- Proofreader for websites including Desktronic, BrickOwl, and ClickTrans
Available for freelance projects on Upwork
Business Consulting
I help SME entrepreneurs in Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Portugal optimize their operations – from hotel management to restaurant efficiency and memorable events. Smart strategies that don’t break the bank.
🐱 Meet My Cats
Fifty Shady (2014) and Chickpea (2024) keep me company. Here’s Shady:
🚀 Current Projects
Creative Works
- 📚 Eat Out, Lose Fat – Final drafting phase of this English book about building a healthier relationship with dining out without sacrificing joy;
- 📖 Het Laatste Hostel – Dutch novel about digital identity and what remains when you go offline;
- 📖 Always Almost There: A Memoir – A brutally honest and darkly funny memoir about a former successful expat who keeps chasing geographical solutions to existential problems, only to discover that everyone else—from Moroccan locals to American compound dwellers—is running toward their own version of “elsewhere.” These memoirs are based on my time in Tbilisi and Casablanca in 2023;
- 🎬 Flagged – Six-part limited crime thriller series (Thailand/Australia setting) in development;
- 📰 The Quiet Reader – Literary magazine I founded in 2020, relaunched with fresh vision
Business Ventures
- ⛰️ Expedition Kilimanjaro – Tour company I’ve directed since 2008 (16+ years of getting people up that mountain!)
- 🎭 Switching the Flicks – Quietly seeking location for new movie house in Phnom Penh (successor to The Flicks)
- 🎬 Movie Recommendations – Curating quality films for cinema lovers
📚 Currently Reading
My Goodreads tracks my recent Kindle adventures.
🌴 On My Bucket List
Palawan, Philippines – Craving the blue waters, lagoons, and beaches of El Nido and the Calamian Islands for some fresh travel inspiration on my walls.
🌐 Find Me Online
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